Re: what would this لَمْ يَكُنْ translate to

لم يَكُنْ is equal to ما كان. It means 'He was not'. But this meaning doesn't make any sense because it is naaqis verb. So in order to get its proper meaning we have to bring its ism and khabar.

Now why sometimes it is translated as "He is" or "He will be"?
That is because at that time كان comes with the name Allah. When كان is used with Allah then كان means "He was", "He is" and "He will be".
And sometimes it gives the meaning of future because it comes in جملة شرطية.
So the context do effect the meanings.

Re: what would this لَمْ يَكُنْ translate to

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